The elderberry is a vitamin-packed treat which grows abundantly in hedgerows and woodland. It’s fun to pick in August and September – and it makes a delicious cordial which can then be used as the basis for a spectacular Elderberry Kir Royale.
ELDERBERRY CORDIAL
Ingredients
500g of elderberries
500ml of water
350g of caster sugar
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Method
1 Remove the berries from their stems (a fork helps) and give them a wash.
2 Put the berries in a pan along with the lemon zest. Cover with the water and simmer for 30 minutes, until the berries have broken down. Skim away any scum.
3 Strain the juice through a colander lined with muslin set over a bowl. Squish the the berries to extract as much juice as you can.
4 Return the juice to the pan and add the sugar and lemon juice. Gently heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
5 Decant into a sterilised bottle and serve diluted with sparkling water – or champagne, to turn into an indulgent kir!
